Alarm for fire extinguishing systems



NOV. 6, 1934. A. C, ROWLEYv l 1,980,095

ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed March 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 6, 1934. A. c. RowLEY 1,980,095

ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed March 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4@ L lq www0/fw@ NOV 6 1934- A. c. RowLEY 1,980,095

ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed March 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 wie 73 69 I lill 74 1 am Nov. 6,1934. A C. ROWLEY 1,980,095

ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed Marh 2, 1954 6 sheets-shet 4 figg Nov. 6, 1934. A. c. RowLEY ALARM FOR FIRE EXTLNGUISHINCT SYSTEMS Filed March 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 6, 1934.

A. C. ROWLEY ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed March 2, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ALARM FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Application March 2, 1934, Serial No. 713,721

2 Claims. (Cl. 169-23) The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved alarm device applicable to many types of fire-extinguishing systems.

Another object is to provide an alarm device that may also function as an accelerator in connection with dry pipevalves of the type used in dry pipe sprinkler systems.

The invention further resides in certain novel structural and mechanical features hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device made in accordance with my invention;

Figs. la and 1b are detached views in perspective of the principal elements or the electric switch mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view oi the device;

Fig. 3 is a View showing one method of applying the device to a differential dry pipe valve and shows the valve in section;

Fig. 4 is, an elevational view of the device utilized as an alarm device and accelerator for dry pipe valves;

, Fig. 5 is a view showing the device applied to a differentially weighted check valve and shows the valve in section; i

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the device in its application to a wet sprinkler system employing a supervisory alarm control and supervisory drain valve, the valve being shown in section,

and

Fig. 7 is an elevational View showing the device employed in a system utilizing the supervisory valve shown in Fig. 6 in conjunction with a differential dry pipe valve as a supervised control valve.

With reference to the drawings, the alarm device forming the subject of the present invention comprises a casing 1 having at the bottom an .10 inlet port 2 and a discharge port 3. Installed within the casing l is a iiexible diaphragm 4 which constitutes a wall separating the pressure chamber 5 from the main chamber 6 of the casing. Clamped against the inner face of the diaphragm 4 is a member 7 which has a stem 8 projecting through the diaphragm 4 and through the chamber 5, the outer end of the stem 8 being guided in a recess 9 in the wall of the housing l. In the present instance, the element 7 is clamped to the diaphragm by means of a nut 11 on a threaded portion of the stem 8, which nut occupies a position within the chamber 5 and acts against a member l2 to force this member against the face of the diaphragm 4 whereby the said diaphragm is securely clamped between the element 7 and the member 12. At its outer edge, the member 12 has lugs 13 which by engagement with a shoulder 14 on the casing limits the movement of the diaphragm 4 in that direction under pressure exerted from the main chamber 6 of the casing. The stem 8 is hollow and provides a passage through which the main chamber 6 of the casing may communicate with the pressure chamber 5, ports 15 and 16 connecting the stem passage with the chamber 6 and chamber 5 respectively. A stem 17 nts loosely within the hollow stern 3 and acts to restrict the communicating passage between the chambers 5 and 6. Mounted at the top of the casing 1 is a pressure tank 18, the interior of which is in connection through. a port 19 with the top of the chamber 5.

The central projecting portion 21 of the member 8 engages the bifurcated lower end of one of the arms of a bell crank lever 22 pivotally mounted within the casing; and the other arm of the lever 22 is apertured for reception of a depending link 23. The lower end of this link is apertured for reception of a pin 24 which projects from a member 25 clamped to the outer face of a flexible diaphragm 26, the peripheral edges of which are clamped within the casing. Extending through an aperture in the diaphragm 26 and threaded into a tapped hole in the inner face of the member 25 is a stem 27, and this stem has a rounded ange 28 which occupies a recess in the diaphragm-retaining plug 29, the iiange being resiliently held against the wall of this recess by means of a spring 31. The outer end of the pin 27 normally engages and retains in an advance position the lower bifurcated end of a link 32 which is pivotvally supported at 33 in the casing. The upper end of the link 32 is connected by a spring 34 with the upper end of a lever 35 which also is pivotally mounted at 36, in the casing. The lower end of the lever 35 normally occupies a recess 37 in a lever 38, which lever is pivotally mounted at 39 in the casing. This lever 33 normally has its free end underlying a cross piece 4l on the link 32, as illustrated, whereby the lever 38 is held in the normal operative position as illustrated. The lever 38 has depending arms 42 between which lits one end of a link 43, the other end of which is pivotally secured to the link 32. The link 43 has therein a slot 44 which embraces a pin 45 extending between the arms 42. The lever 35 has a hooked portion 46 adapted to engage and retain the upper end of an arm 47 which is pivotally secured at its lower end at 48 to the outer wall of the casing l. When the parts described above are in the relative positions illustrated in Fig. l, the

arm 47 is retained in the elevated or retracted position. If, however, as hereinafterset forth, the pin 27 is displaced suiiciently to release the lowerl the main chamber 6 of the easing 1*; it willbe.

apparent that this pressure, by reason of the re'- stricted passage through; the stem-fk 3, previously described and including the ports` 15- and116,-,will gradually equalize in the charnsherf: in the:

pressure chamber 18 connectedtherewith. Ii under these conditions of balanced pressure there is a sudden substantial decrease of pressurewitliin the chamber 6, it will be apparent that the pressure in the pressurechamber wand-chamber 5" will ca-.usea` displacementfof' theiiexibl'e diaphragm 4 toward the chamber', and through the extension 21 of the member 7 will effect a clockwise movement of the bell crank lever 22, see Fig. lel'evating the rod 232 and with it the freel end of the-member 25. This movement of the member 251`spermittedlby the flexible` diaphragm 26 to which the member is connected', and will effect downward movement of the pin-27 on the other side ci: thediaphragm. Down-ward displacement of-the free end of the pin- 27- releases the lower end et the link-41, and as previously setv forth releases` the trip mecllianism'- constituted by` the lin-k 32, lever38'I and leverv 35, so that the arm 47 is released. k y

u WhenI the armI 47 is in. the'normal elevated pcsition, as shown, itengages and displaces inwardlyt apl'unger 5t, whichplunger is slidablyvmountedfin the casing' and is normally" retained in an advanced` orI extended' position by a spring 52. The-plunger 5'1-carries a transverse metallic pin 53-whichprcjects at each side of the plunger-51 andwhi'chwl'ien the latter is inthe extended positiori engages a pairof' flexiblecontact elements 56,A seeFigt 11a. These contact elements are secured* in 'aninsulatingmember 55 by Vbolts 56 Whichfin assen'iblyY engage"h resilient contact elements 571,- '57'vonanl insulated support 58 mounted in--thej casing;- Froin thecontact elements 5,7,I 57 electric wires 59, 59` extend to ak suitable outlet openingf and'may be suitably connected in an electriccircuitincludingv asource of potential and any-suitable electric alarm device (not shown) either audible or visible; It will be apparent that when-theplunger isretracted, as when= the arm Llfis hieldi in the elevated: position as shown, this circuit will be broken by reason of the separation of the-pin- 53 from-thecontacts 54;- but when the arm=47 is released, the'spring-52' forces the plunger 511 outwardlyand thereby brings the switchpin- 53 into engagement with both of the contacts 54, 54 and'- thereby closes thecircuit and actuates the 'electric alarm.

\ Thedischarge-pcrt 3-` off the-casing 1 isn normally separated front the interior chamber 6 of the casing -by-a valveGi whichinthe position in which itis shown-in Fig. lis seatedl to close a port 6210etweenth'echamber 6 and' the discharge port 3. This .valve is `normally held seated by the action offthe arm 47 l"which carriesv a set screw 63 engaging the-projecting endoi'the stem64 of the valve. When I the 'arm 47? is -releasedf asv described above, thefluidpressurefinftheichaniber 6 of the casing forces' the valve 61- outwardly; thereby permitting Yment of the valve or any use of springs to effect result.-

adjustments of the valve 6l to Vclose the port 62 can thus be made from the out- VVside el'V the' casing-J ln practice, the discharge -pnrt mei-ghe .connected to a fluid motor, which beconnected mechanically to a visibleor audible mechanical alarm.

In Fig; 3, l have illustrated the aforedescribed device-as a simple duplex alarm applied to a dry pipe sprinkler system.` As illustrated, the system comprises a-V'alv-e 66`w-hi'ch is interposed between the-'water supply7 pipe (iT-and the dry pipe system 68. The valve. 66'is of the differential type and includes, a clapper 69 which normally closes the water pipe 6.7 and which is held to. seat by aA second andlarger clapper 7l, which in turnis held on its seat by air pressure within the dry pipe system. In this type of valve, an intermediate chamber 7-2 is connected with the atmosphere,

trated, the alarm device-[forming the subject-of14 the present invention isconnected tothe casing of the valve 66 on the systemside of the air clapper 71, a pipe extending from the valve casing 65V at a point above *the clapper 7-1 tothe intake The discharge port 3i of port 2 oi' the casing- 1'. the casing lin this instance iisconnected through a pipe 76- withy a water motor 77 which is operatively connectedv with a gong or other mechanicalala-rnr 73'. The air pressure inf the dry pipe systemV in this instance is imposed upon the cham'-l ber 6 of the casing 1, the chamber 5 and the pres'- snre'htank 183 and normally the elements of the alarm deviceA occupy the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. l. Sudden decrease of air pressure in the dry pipe system resulting-3 for example from the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads of said' system resultsY in a movement of the flexible diaphragm 4, as previously set forth, to release the trip mechanism and the-arm 47, which in turn results in the closing of 'the electric switch constituted the elements 53 and 54 and the sounding'oi the'electric alarm associated' therewith. Simultaneously the dry pipe-valve- 66 opens'to admit water from the main 67`to the dry pipe system, and the pressure of this l water passing into the chamber 6 of the casing 1 forcesthe valve 61, which has ,beenreleasedby the arm 47, from its seat and; admits water to the pipe 76 connected to the discharge` port 3 of the casing and to the water motor 77, which actuates' the mechanical' alarm '78. v

Thisd-evice is adapted, also, asshown in Fig. 4, for use as a con'ibin'ationI alarm and accelerator fordry'pipe-valves ofthe general character shown in Fig. 3. In-this instance', the intake port 2' of" andan-y smallleakage of' water from the supply` iis the casing 1 is connected, as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 and through a pipe 81, with the system side of the dry pipe valve. The discharge port of the casing 1, instead of being connected as in the previous case to a mechanical alarm device is connected through a pipe 82, and in the present instance through the automatic drain valve 74 with the intermediate or atmospheric chamber of the dry pipe valve. Sudden decrease of pressure in the dry pipe system results as previously set forth in actuation of the trip mechanism of the alarm device, releasing the arm 47 and the valve 61, this valve being opened by pressure within the chamber 6 and in the dry pipe system and connecting the system through the pipe 82 with the intermediate chamber 72 of the dry pipe Valve, thereby immediately equalizing the pressures on opposite sides of the air clapper 71 of the valve and resulting in a prompt opening of the dry pipe valve to admit water to the sprinkler system. Operation of the alarm device results as previously described in the actuation of the electric alarm associated therewith, thereby affording the combined alarm and accelerator action.

The device is equally applicable to wet pipe systems of automatic sprinklers, and in Fig. 5 I have shown the device forming the subject of the present invention applied to a wet system employing a weighted check valve. This valve comprises a casing 83 which may be connected through a pipe 84 with the water main and through a pipe 85 with the sprinkler system. Installed Within the casing 83 is a clapper 86 having operatively associated therewith a Weight 87. The intake of the casing l is connected in this instance through a pipe 88 with the system side of the casing 88, and the discharge port 3 is connected as previously set forth and through a pipe 39 with a mechanical alarm device. Sudden decrease of pressure on the system side of the clapper 86 results as previously set forth in a movement of the iiexible diaphragm 4, releasing the trip mechanism and the arm 47, resulting in a closing of the electric alarm circuit and the opening of the valve 61 connecting the discharge port 3 with the mechanical alarm. It is apparent that in a system of this sort the valve 83-86 may be replaced by any other suitable type of differential valve.

In Fig. 6, my device is shown applied to a wet pipe system employing a valve of the supervisory type. In this instance, the clapper 91 of the supervisory valve has associated therewith a Spring 92 exerting pressure tending to hold the valve on its seat. The valve casing 93 has an intake port 94 which is connected through a pipe 95 with the source of water supply, and a discharge port 96 connected through a pipe 97 with the sprinkler system. The two chambers of the valve at opposite sides of the clapper 91 are interconnected through a restricted port 98 which is controlled by a manually operated valve 99. In this type of valve, provision is made for draining the sprinkler system, this being accomplished through the medium of a supplemental valve 101 which normally closes a port 102 connecting that chamber of the valve casing 93 connected to the sprinkler system with a discharge chamber 103, this chamber 103 having a port 104 connected to the drain. The valve 101 has a stem 105 threaded in the casing by means of which the valve may be advanced into engagement with the clapper 91 to positively hold the clapper to its seat. In draining the system, the valve 99 is manipulated to close the port 98 and the valve 101 is unseated through operation of the stem 105 and is advanced into engagement with the clapper 91 to hold the latter closed. The system is then permitted to drain through the port 102 and the drain port 104. In this instance, the intake port of the casing 1 of the alarm device is connected to the interior of the valve casing 93 on the system side of the clapper 91, and the discharge port 3 of the casing 1 is connected through a pipe 106 to the mechanical alarm. Decrease of pressure in the sprinkler system results in an actuation of the alarm device as previously set forth with actuation of both the electrical and mechanical alarms.

This same type of supervisory valve may be used in conjunction with a dry pipe valve to provide in effect a supervised control valve, as illustrated in Fig. 7. In this instance, the supervisor7 valve 93 is connected between the water main 107 and the differential dry pipe valve 108, which may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. The alarm device in this instance is connected, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, to that chamber of the supervisory valve casing 93 which connects with the dry pipe valve 108. Release of pressure in this chamber of the supervisory valve due to opening of the dry pipe valve 108 results in operation of the alarm device as previously set forth with actuation of the electrical and mechanical alarms.

The device as described constitutes a highly effective and simplified form of alarm applicable to practically any type of sprinkler system employing a differential control valve.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a main chamber, a pressure chamber, and a port communieating with said main chamber, of a exible diaphragm separating said chambers, a restricted passage connecting said chambers, a second port in said casing communicating with said main chamber, a valve adapted to close said second port, electric switch mechanism mounted in said casing, a member adapted to engage said switch mechanism and the valve for retaining the said valve closed and the said switch open, a retainer for said member, and trip mechanism operatively connecting said retainer with the ilexible diaphragm.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a casing having main and pressure chambers and a port communicating with said main chamber, of a flexible diaphragm separating said chambers, a restricted passage connecting said chambers, alarm control means mounted in said casing, releasable means for retaining said control means in alarm-inoperative condition, trip mechanism operatively connecting said retaining means with the exible diaphragm,

said trip mechanism comprising a second ex- A ible diaphragm constituting a portion of the wall of said main chamber, a latch carried by said second diaphragm, and a mechanical connection between said second diaphragm and the diaphragm rst named.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

